Lotte Confirmed to Recruit Head Coach Cho Won-woo! Busan's autumn baseball know-how will be added to the master of 'KS No. 7'

Nov 05, 2024

Chief coach Cho Won-woo when he was Lotte coach. Sports Chosun DB

Former coach Cho Won-woo will return to Lotte Giants. This time, he is not a head coach, but a head coach who will assist head coach Kim Tae-hyung.

Lotte officially announced on the 5th that former coach Cho Won-woo will be with him as the head coach of the first team of the 2025 season.

Head coach Cho Won-woo took the helm of Lotte from 2016 to 2018. When he served, he made it to the semi-playoff in 2017. This is an example of Lotte entering the fall baseball league only once in 12 years since 2012.

It wasn't beautiful until the end. Immediately after entering the fall baseball league, he signed a three-year extension contract, but was replaced with a two-year contract left immediately after the end of the 2018 season. Kang Min-ho's absence, who moved to FA shortly after the 2017 season, still remains Lotte's big homework seven years later.

Head coach Cho Won-woo is an authentic Busan man who graduated from Suyeong Elementary School, Choryang Middle School, and Busan High School. It seems that he is returning to his hometown for the first time in a long time. The recruitment of a big-name coach who once left the team, especially the head coach, can be an event that symbolizes Lotte's changed appearance at the same time as showing the extraordinary distribution of head coach Kim Tae-hyung.

Head coach Cho Won-woo, who joined the Ssangbangwool Raiders in 1994, began his leadership career as a defensive coach for the Hanwha Eagles in 2009 after retirement. In particular, he was widely recognized as a coach specializing in outfield defense. It is expected to create synergy in Lotte's outfield defense.

Chief coach Cho Won-woo when he was Lotte coach. Sports Chosun DB

Cho Won-woo, the head coach, said "I would like to thank the SSG Landers for leaving good memories over the past four years"Lotte's uniform will be worn for the third time. I will take good care of manager Kim Tae-hyung so that he can perform well at Lotte. Lotte has many young and promising players. I will help the players grow to the next level based on their experiences."

Lotte also announced the appointment of Jang Jae-young and Lee Young-joon, the Futures training coach, along with head coach Cho Won-woo. Coach Jang Jae-young was a trainer from 2002 to 2014, and coach Lee Young-joon was a trainer at Lotte from 2007 to 2014. After that, he returned to Lotte at this opportunity after passing through the U.S. driveline and its own rehabilitation center.

Based on the experience of the head of the sports medical center at the hospital, it has advantages in understanding and communication skills with athletes. In addition, with the completion of the U.S. Rehabilitation Center course, there is a high understanding of the advanced training system. In addition, the know-how accumulated through the operation of the training center can be immediately applied to the field and can contribute to the training of reverse trainers.

Meanwhile, the Lotte team conveyed its intention to release infielders Lee Hak-joo, Oh Sun-jin, pitchers Lee In-bok and Lim Joon-seop,

lunarfly@sportschosun.com